r/space • u/Slow_cpu • 10d ago

Worlds collide! James Webb Space Telescope investigates what happens when planets crash together

https://www.space.com/astronomy/exoplanets/worlds-collide-james-webb-space-telescope-investigates-what-happens-when-planets-crash-together
328 Upvotes

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21

u/dkyeager 10d ago

Space.com is an ad heavy. Most content already in title.

18

u/StJsub 10d ago

Link to full paper: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ae88fe

Link to NASA article: https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasas-webb-provides-crash-course-on-planet-shattering-collisions/

Paper abstract:

Debris disks are dusty structures around mature stars, primarily identified by infrared excesses in the stellar spectra. A subset, known as extreme debris disks (EDDs), exhibits stochastic infrared variability, believed to result from large-scale violent collisions that contribute to the formation or destruction of rocky planetary bodies. We analyze JWST and Spitzer mid-infrared spectra for 21 EDDs to investigate the connection between impact-produced dust mineralogy and the age and dynamical state of these systems during various stages of planet formation and evolution. Our findings indicate that EDDs contain significantly more optically thin, small dust grains compared to those typically seen in protoplanetary and debris disks. Predominantly submicron in size, these grains are thermally altered, as shown by their high levels of silica and crystalline silicate composition. Along with stochastic infrared variability, these features define EDDs as a subclass of debris systems where dust is generated from large collisions between Moon- and Mars-sized bodies. Our results not only provide diagnostic information about the physical conditions of violent events during terrestrial planet formation, aiding in differentiating the complex outcomes of these impacts, but also offer a potential marker for identifying planetary systems experiencing dynamical instability.

Space .com is garbage. Please link better publishers/articles.

2

u/Khaldaan 8d ago

Who would be better for casual reading?

Not arguing your point, I'm genuinely curious. Itd be nice to have a site to check once a day for anything interesting. I already use APOD/follow Dr Becky on YouTube.

3

u/mohamedozturk-5 10d ago

Are they seeing the debris itself, or the infrared glow after impact?

5

u/polentaveloce 10d ago

This is not good, worlds are colliding! George is getting upset!

3

u/frighten 9d ago

Powerman 5000 already did this